We assume that town k is |k – j| miles from town j. The numbers of people in the towns who want to take the bus each hour are listed in the file P08_34.xlsx. Bus 99 will make two stops and anyone who wants to take the bus will walk to the closest bus stop.

a. If the goal is to minimize the total distance people walk, where should the bus stop?

b. If the bus is allowed to make three stops, how much will the total walking distance be reduced?